“Hope for the best, prepare for the worst”, the old saying goes. And we should keep this in mind when it comes to picking a health care agency. We want an agency to be there for us should the worst case scenario transpire. But we also want a health care agency that can help us out long before we get to a worst case scenario. Here are some things seniors and their loved ones should look for in a health care agency.
Seniors’ Health
Of course, we should point out, that there are plenty of seniors out there who are perfectly healthy and perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. But that doesn’t change the fact that there are fewer healthy 80 year olds than there are healthy 40 year olds. If only we could all live to the ripe old age of 100 and never have a significant health problem before our time comes. But for the vast majority of us, that won’t be the case.
If you yourself are now a senior or nearing your seniors years, or if you are the loved one of a senior, you have to consider that the likelihood of needing senior care is high. Given this, you want a health care agency that offers comprehensive personal care. Personal care services are designed to help seniors with the activities of daily living. Activities such as eating, grooming/bathing, toileting, getting in and out of bed, etc. When we first thing of senior care, we probably think of personal care. But as important as personal care is, it’s not the only form of senior care for which we should be looking.
What Else Health Care Agencies Can Do for Seniors
There is plenty that a health care agency can do for seniors beyond simply offering personal care. Senior care is about helping all seniors, regardless of their issues and concerns. As such, seniors and their families should look for a health care agency that offers something in the way of both companion care and homemaking services. Companionship services are designed to combat the deleterious effects of poor mental and emotional health. Many seniors live in isolation or semi-isolation. Human beings are sociable creatures and being alone for too long can really start to negatively affect somebody’s mental health. The most pressing concern here is depression which itself can lead to a number of physical issues. Companion caregivers visit seniors regularly, help them plan outings, take them for walks, play games, and just sit and listen to their concerns.
Homemaking services are designed to tackle more tangible problems. Many seniors are in good health, yet they just don’t have as much strength or energy as they once had. As such, simple tasks like bringing a big basket of laundry up the stairs or buying a load of groceries can be exhausting, painful, and even dangerous. You definitely want a health care agency that offers something in the way of homemaking services to alleviate this burden.
Contact us
Executive Home Care is a health care agency that offers all of the above services and what’s more, we offer them all in the homes of our clients. To learn more, please contact us today.